Feeding or medicine cup.



PATENTED JULY 16, 1907. G. A. TATUM.

FEEDING 0R MEDICINE 0UP.

nruornon FILED rmm. 1906.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oEARLEs A. TATUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro WHITALL TATUM COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A oORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FEEDING OR MEDICINE CUP.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 16, 1907.

Application filed February 6,1906. Serial No. 299.826.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. TATUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manhattan borough, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feeding or Medicine Cups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cup or vessel adapted for use by invalids or in feeding weak or sick persons or in administering medicine.

This cup or glass embodies certain features of construction, set forth in the following specification and claim and illustrated in the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cup embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modification.

In this drawing is shown a vessel or receptacle a having a projecting outlet or beak b. This beak portion b is so placed that a patient can be fed in various positions without the contents spilling.

A patient or person lying on the back could have the contents of the vessel or cup passing out of the beak guided into his mouth. Or the patient when lying on the side can also use the cup in such position. This beak is of such shape as to form a spout or nipple which can be conveniently taken into the mouth, or if shaped as seen at b Fig. 4 the spout or device could be used as a nasal douche or for other purposes.

The rim Opposite the spout or nipple is cut away or recedes to avoid contact with the nose when the device is used for feeding or drinking. The cut away or receding portion can be shaped as seen at c Fig. 1 or as seen at c Fig. 4.

A tube d slipped into the spout will be held against loss or falling out. Such tube is indicated in Fig. 2 and is serviceable at times in hospital or sick room work or on other occasions.

This feeding or invalid cup can be made of any suitable material. It can be held in either hand right or left as most convenient. It is easily cleaned and can be graduated if required.

The portion above the spout or nipple forms an upwardly inclined shield or breast portion which prevents spilling or overflowing, but the contents of the vessel will be guided into the nipple extending from such shield.

The nipple B in all the forms shown inclines outwardly at a greater angle of inclination than the body wall which regularly continues into the outer portion of the nipple, and the rear or inner portion of the nipple continues into a concaved bridge b terminating at its inner end flush with the downwardly receding upper edge of the body as at c or c, and the inner surface of the wall of the nipple and the parts continuing therefrom are thus formed without angles or crevices; and the nipple for this reason is structurally important from a hygienic standpoint. Furthermore, the concavcd bridge b provides a recess for the upper lip of the patient, and this structure, together with the receding rim 0 or 0 around the opening of the body, equips the cup with features that materially increase the convenience of application to the patient. The receding rim around the inlet Opening to the body of the cup also provides means for ready access for filling and cleaning purposes in addition to the advantage hereinbefore enumerated, and namely, to remove the upper part of the cup as much as possible in rear of the bridge to prevent contact with the nose of the patient. The utility of the concaved bridge or part b is very important in the use of the cup, as it conforms to the upper lip when the spout b is taken into the mouth. For obvious sanitary reasons the spout must be short and the concavity of the bridge eases swing or lift of the cup as it is tilted during drinking. The circular formation of the opening in the top of the cup is also advantageous in that the fingers can be more easily revolved or moved about in the cup when cleaning or washing, and in contradistinction to the obstruction that would be present to such free cleaning movement by the fingers if the opening was oval or other irregular shape.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An article of the class specified having a cup-shaped body flared towards its upper extremity, and an upper outwardly inclined tubular beak having its outer portion merging intothe adjacent part of the wall of the body and its inner portion continuing into a concaved bridge, the upper terminal of the body being formed with a downwardly inclined or receding rim surrounding a circular inlet opening, the highest portion of the rim coinciding with the inner terminal of the bridge, the inner surface of the beak being smooth and continuous with respect to the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the body.

An article of the class specified, having a cup-shaped body provided with an upper outwardly inclined tubular beak, the outer portion of the beak merging into the adjacent part of the wall of the body, and the inner portion thereof continuing into a concaved bridge over the top por- -tion of the body, the upper terminal of the body in rear of the bridge being downwardly inclined and having a. circular opening therein.

3. An article of the class specified, having a cup-shaped which the beak projects, the upper downwardly inclined 1O portion of the body having an opening formed therein.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. TA'IUM.

Witnesses V A. H. TATUM, W; W. TAMDYN; 

